Sister Mary's Justice Notes: August 9

The halls of power were crowded with collars, stoles, and yarmulkes recently, as groups from across the religious spectrum descended on Capitol Hill to make the religious case against the GOP-led effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA). As Republican senators continued to debate various ways to repeal and replace (or just repeal) the Affordable Care Act, a small group of faith leaders huddled in prayer just inside the Senate Chambers. Read more: https://thinkprogress.org/faith-groups-push-obamacare-e200406c21ad/

How North Korea Is Prompting New Efforts to Prepare For a Nuclear Attack

The House of Representatives is expected to vote soon on a "security minibus" budget package which includes $1.6 billion for additional fencing and wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Border walls destroy families, communities, and the Earth, and are too expensive and ineffective at addressing the root causes that compel migrants to leave their homes. The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns invites us to tell our representatives to vote "NO" on border wall funding. Go to: http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/50887/p/dia/action4/common/public/index.sjs?action_KEY=22972

Trump Administration Targeting Immigrant Children Is a New Low

The recent trend of broadly labeling unaccompanied immigrant children as criminals and gang members is just the latest in a series of attacks on some of the most vulnerable individuals in the U.S. immigration system. In reality, most immigrant children from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala are fleeing the very gangs they are purportedly members of. Read more: http://immigrationimpact.com/2017/07/27/trump-administration-targeting-immigrant-children/

Hundreds of libraries are now serving federally funded summer meals to children to ensure that they do not go hungry. The change is part of an effort to pair nutrition and educational activities so low-income children get summertime learning, too. The meals are paid for through USDA's Summer Food Service Program. In 2016, nearly 4 million children were offered roughly 179 million meals. Read more:https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/30/well/family/free-lunch-at-the-library.html

Editor’s Note: CSJ Justice Notes will resume Aug. 30. In the meanwhile, the editor will be making retreat in preparation for her perpetual vows. Thank you for your interest and commitment to being women and men of justice.